Loss Control FAQ

1. What is loss control?
   Loss control is a term used in the insurance industry that simply means controlling the accidents, injuries and losses policyholders experience. The loss control department is comprised of dedicated safety professionals who work with policyholders to assist them in reducing the number and severity of injuries and accidents. We provide safety training materials, expert advice, hazard identification surveys and on site consultations. Service Lloyds provides this service because we know that when policyholders have fewer accidents, losses are reduced, employees are more productive, and profitability increases.
   
   
2. What are the most frequent injuries?
   Slip and fall injuries continue to be the most frequent type of injury for all industries throughout the United States. Most of these accidents are easily preventable with good housekeeping practices: clean up spills quickly, replace or repair worn walking surfaces like carpet and tile, and keep trip hazards off the floor.
   
   
3. What are the most serious injuries?
   Back strains are still the most expensive injury. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most frequent injuries because everyone uses their back every day, even away from work. Deterioration over time contributes to back problems at work. Many companies have wellness programs that improve employee health overall but especially help reduce back strains.
   
   
4. Should all injuries, even the small ones, be reported to the insurance company?
   Yes!  If the injury requires no medical treatment and the claim closes with no money paid, the claim will not affect your experience modifier. Also, many small claims turn into larger claims down the road. If the Claims Department does not know about these at the onset of the claim it makes it very difficult to control the cost of the claim. And, by reporting all claims, the Loss Control department gets an accurate assessment of your accident history and is better able to assist you. The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation requires that ALL claims that result in one or more days of lost time be reported to the insurance company.
   
   
5. How can accidents/injuries be avoided?
   There are numerous techniques to avoid injuries, but one of the most effective methods is to get employees to take personal responsibility for their safety. To do this, regular safety meetings should be conducted, employee safety committees should be formed, and, of course, routine inspections of the workplace to identify and eliminate physical hazards should be conducted.
   
   
6. Do I need a written safety program?
   Yes. There are so many things an employer has to do just to keep the business running that it is very difficult to remember things without writing them down. Even small business owners benefit from a written safety program because it takes the guesswork out of employee actions and behaviors. If the safety rules are written down and everyone has a copy of them, it is much easier for an employer to enforce the rules and for employees to understand management’s expectations. This has the added bonus of informing employees the safe way to perform their work tasks. Larger employers really need a written program because of the diversity of job positions and increased number of employees. A written safety program doesn’t have to be elaborate. It simply needs to fit the company’s needs.
   
   
7. Am I under the jurisdiction of OSHA?
   In most cases the answer is yes. If you are not a government entity, or your state does not have an approved State OSHA plan (and Texas does not), then you are covered by OSHA. There are some exemptions from recordkeeping requirements, however. For example, if you do not have 11 or more employees during a year or if your SIC code is exempt, then you do not have to maintain the OSHA 300 log of occupational injuries and illnesses.  For example, SIC. code 5511, new/used automobile dealers, is an exempt SIC code for the OSHA 300 log. For a list of exempt SIC codes, go to the OSHA website.
   
   
8. Why should safety meetings be documented?
   First, it serves as a reminder to management about topics that have been covered and those that have not. Secondly, it helps management keep track of which employees have been trained and which have not. Both of these are important in running an effective safety program. This documentation also lets employees know that management is serious enough about safety to keep records.
   
   Certain types of training (Hazard Communication, Forklift Operation, Personal Protective Equipment, etc.) are required by OSHA, and documentation of this training is mandatory for compliance with the law.
   
   
9. Where can I obtain safety training materials?
   Service Lloyds offers many training materials. The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation also provides many safety related materials, as does OSHA.
   
   
10. What is a return-to-work program and why do I need one?
    A return-to-work program (RTW) is a program for returning injured workers back to meaningful work. This is often called light duty work but we prefer to call it modified duty work. While it may be light duty compared to their regular job, it should still be meaningful work.  The reason to have an RTW program is to reduce the cost of the injury, get the employee back to their normal work duties as soon as possible, get the employee active and productive, and still get some meaningful productive work from the employee until they can return to their normal duties. The cost of claims can usually be cut by 50% or more when an RTW program is used. Service Lloyds has an RTW program available to policyholders.